learned and go to him, otherwise I go to the house of the principal landholder and ask him to send a man to collect as many as he can of the villagers, telling them at the same time, that the Padri Sahib had come to teach them God's word, or make known to them the glad tidings of salvation. In this way generally a good number come together, to whom I then preach the Gospel. Sometimes I find it more convenient to all parties if I go to a place of the village, most commonly under a large shady tree, where the villagers are in the habit of collecting. I also whenever I go to a new place, endeavour to find out on what day markets are held in the neighbouring villages, to which I then resort and have the opportunity of preaching the Gospel to a good number, who come perhaps from four to ten villages round about to attend the market." Rev. J. P. Menge, Lucknow Report, 1862.

In each district (of the Punjab) villagers are associated together in tribes. I think, when a visit is intended, the Missionary would find much larger audiences, if he wrote to the leading men of their tribes; telling them, by letter, of his wish to meet them at a given place and time. He should be accompanied by three or four assistants, men who give promise of some day being fit for evangelistic work. They could go before as messengers, to announce the arrival, and stir up the people to come to the great gathering." E. A. Prinsep, Esq., Lahore Conference Report, p. 86.

"It sometimes happened, in visiting a village, that the people were either so busy or so careless, that a congregation could not be obtained. At such times we would look round for some person who happened to be so employed that he need not be interrupted by our conversation; and, attaching ourselves to him, would enter at once on religious topics. In this way we have often spent an hour with a knot of weavers, plying their art in the open air, and simple machines, with which their European brethren would deem it almost impossible to produce any fabric; or by the wheel of the potter, who, maintaining the whirl, and dexterously shaping his wares, gave, at the same time, attention, and perhaps frequent response, to our discourse. With the shepherd watching his flock, the ryot measuring his corn, the pedagogue surrounded by his pupils, the tax-gatherer collecting his dues, the old woman spinning her cotton, the housewife grinding at her mill, we have familiarly talked about the things of God." Arthur's Mysore, p. 284.

During the middle of the day, the Missionary will probably have visitors at his tent. As already mentioned, after preaching he should always invite the people to come to see him.

The following system is adopted in the Jaffna American Mission, occupying a compact field :—

"In connection with our village schools, our method has been to make an appointment, (statedly or occasionally as the case may be,) and to require the teacher to give notice of the meeting. Our Native Assistauts make that village the field of their labour for that day, going from house to house, reading tracts or portions of the Bible, conversing with all they meet, and giving notice of the evening meeting. The Missionary himself, as often as health and other circumstances will allow, joins in this previous preparation. At early candle-lighting the people assemble at the school bungalow. Our practice may vary a little, but generally the meeting is opened by prayer and by reading a portion of the Bible. Some leading truth in the portion read is then taken for the subject, and the Missionary and one or two of his Native Assistants address the assembly, using explanations, parables, applications, exhortations, and appeals with all the fearlessness and confidence of Thus saith the Lord.' Questions are answered, and the meeting is closed with prayer.

"The place of these assemblies has not been confined to the village school-house. Headmen and others who have a convenient place for such a gathering, not unfrequently invite us to hold meetings in their own compounds, or readily accommodate us when requested. In many places the shade of a great tree, or an open field has been found even better than the school-house for such gatherings, when the weather would permit, and the bright moon-light invited.

"When the people come together, they arrange themselves very politely and respectfully according to their own sense of propriety. If the floor of the school-house be a flat surface and sufficiently large, the adults take the front seats, the pupils being behind them; but if there is a raised seat at the sides, the adults take the sides with the most respectable individuals nearest the Missionary, and the pupils on the floor. But if the room is insufficient for all, the pupils give place to the adults. "It is customary for the Missionary, and for the Native Assistants also, to search out those individuals, who, in their

visits, or in their assemblies, or in any other way, may have been somewhat impressed with Bible truth, and to make them the special subject of personal conversation and prayer, until they either give evidence of being born again or relapse into carelessness and sin.

Among the motives which have induced the people to come to our assemblies, may be found,-(1) curiosity to see and hear a foreigner, (2) the benefits connected with a village school, -(3) the favor of the Missionary which in their minds is or will be somehow of advantage to them,-(4) a desire to hear what this babbler and setter forth of strange gods can say. As long as they are heathens, they will be moved by worldly motives."-Minutes, pp. 27, 28.

3. Europeans and Natives should itinerate together.-Our Lord sent out his disciples two by two. Except in a few special cases, two European Missionaries should not go together. Each of them should work his own district. One European and one Native is the best arrangement in several respects. Each has his excellencies and defects. What is wanting in the one, is supplied by the other. A white face being a greater novelty, is more likely to attract an audience. As Christianity is regarded as the religion of the English, it will naturally be supposed that the Missionary has a better knowledge of it than a convert. His education, in most cases, will also have been superior to that of his native brother. Some of the advantages of the latter are thus stated by the Rev. J. Wenger:

men.

"On the other hand the foreigner has not that complete command of the vernacular language, which the native preacher possesses. The latter is able, almost instinctively, to anticipate the prejudices, excuses, and objections of his heathen countryOn an itinerating tour, a foreign Missionary, when approaching a strange place, usually finds it more or less difficult to obtain ready access to the people, without the aid of a native brother to prepare the way for him. And if any of his hearers wish to enter into private conversation with him, they will rarely have the courage to do so, unless a native brother be

at hand to introduce them. The latter also is usually much better able than he to form a correct estimate of the character and motives of such visitors.

“There is also a great degree of moral beauty in the spectacle presented to the heathen by this fellowship of labour between the European Missionary and his native brother. It at once shows that their hearts and their objects are one, and that Christianity constitutes a bond of brotherhood unknown to Hinduism."

The native brother should be the Catechist of the out-station. He knows most about the people; it is most desirable to strengthen his hands; and by going with him, the Missionary can best understand the difficulties of his position.

4. Do not be discouraged should the interest in a village flag for a time. The Rev. T. Gardiner observed at the Liverpool Conference :

"A Missionary goes to a village for the first time, and gathers the whole people around him without difficulty, they listen; he is a stranger, or a European, and they manifest the utmost interest. The people were very attentive,' may form an entry in his journal; he sends it home, and it will probably be quoted as an illustration of success in the simple preaching of the Gospel. But let that Missionary go a tenth time, or a twelfth time, and I will venture to say that his visit will have lost its interest-the novelty will be worn off; and instead of their coming in crowds to him, he has to go to seek them. This is, no doubt, very trying: it is very much more pleasant to gather a crowd in a village than to go into a verandah, or into a shop, to speak to single persons. But still, in order to speak successfully to people living in a world of thought, and feeling, and sympathy, different from ours, and going there to tell them a strange story, requiring the imparting of new terms, paraphrases, and words to be coined for the occasion, we must go to them again and again; nor must we be discouraged, though the interest they have at first, through politeness or from a sense of novelty, shown, have given way; and to carry on the work

* Calcutta Conference Report, p. 53.

will require the true evangelising spirit of which we speak." Report, p. 38.

A very great deal will depend upon the spirit of the Missionary. A genial, loving disposition will draw the people to him, and he will be greeted with a smile of welcome. On the other hand, if he is cold and formal, he may almost as well stay at home.

Schools and Circulation of Books.-Schools should be opened wherever funds permit. A book-hawker should, if possible, be employed in going round the district with Christian publications for sale at low prices. Directions will be found under the heads of education and Christian literature. Every practicable agency should be employed. Alas that in the great majority of cases, even all combined, will be found of too little avail !

Preaching at Festivals.-Some Missionaries, who have not made the experiment, suppose that the people are so mad with excitement at religious festivals, that it is useless to preach to them. It would, indeed, be unwise to attempt it in the crowd amidst the height of the ceremonies. But during a large portion of each day, the pilgrims are quite at leisure and orderly. Many are then willing to listen. The great drawback is that the impression cannot be followed up. As the people have generally money with them, a book-hawker may go round with advantage.

-PREACHING IN TOWNS.

Street Preaching. -Dr. Wilson of Bombay advocates this in the following terms :—

"Hesitate not to go to the highways and hedges,' to 'compel them to come in,' that God's house may be filled. For the preaching of the Gospel in places of public concourse and more private resort, you have the example of our Lord and his apostles; and this example you will value, notwithstanding its comparative neglect in many parts of the world. There are many facilities in India for carrying it into effect, the natives of